Peanut Bans in Schools

[aephi alum]

Originally Posted by TPARose

I've seen schools with "nut free classes" and "nut classes".

I'm sorry - this made me laugh. "You're in the nut class? So... you're nuts?"

I used to volunteer at a temple that ran a religious school. There was one child who was apparently VERY allergic to nuts of all types including peanuts. Every year, in addition to noting the allergy on her son's medical information form, his mother wrote a letter to the school informing the teachers and staff of her son's allergy and demanding that no nuts be allowed in the building. So the entire temple was a nut-free zone ... I don't think they were even allowed to serve foods containing nuts after Friday night services (typically snacks, soda, and coffee were available after services, so attendees could have a nibble and chitchat).

I don't recall this being an issue at all when I was a child. Kids often brought peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to school for lunch, and when kids brought peanut M&Ms to class, the only reprimand they got was, "Did you bring enough to share with the whole class?"

[ColdInCanada11]

I worked in a massive day camp for 4 years, and there was a nut free policy. However, if a child brought something with peanuts/peanut butter then an instructor would eat with them outside the room. The logic was why should the child with allergies always have to be removed from the situation. I'm not sure if I agree with this 100% but it worked for us.